February 13th, 2016

Otto – Part Four

by Mort Walker

Beetle Bailey daily strip, December 17, 1965.

A decade after his first appearance, Otto was still very much a conventional cartoon dog, walking on all fours and biting Beetle, as the strip above demonstrates.

Beetle Bailey daily strip, April 21, 1966.

That changed in 1969 when Sarge decided to have his dog work in the office as an assistant. The strip below was the first time Otto appeared in a uniform.

Beetle Bailey daily strip, September 16, 1969.

The reaction to this episode from readers was so overwhelmingly positive that Otto has dressed this way ever since. He also does not discriminate between enlisted men and officers when it comes to sinking his teeth into a leg, or in the case below, kissing one.

Beetle Bailey daily strip, August 27, 1970.

Otto continues to be a favorite with fans of the strip today.

– Brian Walker